Lindros Trade Officially Complete

Published 8:00 pm, Friday, January 18, 2002

With the passing of the New York Rangers' 50th game of the season, the Eric Lindros trade is complete.

There had been some disagreement between New York and Philadelphia regarding a 2003 third-round draft pick, due to the Rangers if Lindros sustained a season-ending head injury before a certain amount of games played.

The Flyers claimed it was the team's 50th game, the Rangers contended it was Lindros' 50th game.

Lindros has played 43 games for New York.

But Flyers general manager Bob Clarke, with the support of the NHL, can breathe easy.

"It's over. We talked to the league and they said the same thing. We keep the third-round pick," Clarke said.

Rangers GM Glen Sather had told reporters earlier this season that the pick was contingent on Lindros' 50th game.

But after New York lost to New Jersey on Thursday, Clarke called the league and his version was confirmed.

"I don't know what Glen is talking about," Clarke said Friday.

To prove his case, Clarke showed a copy of the agreement to reporters.

The agreement reads, "… in the event Eric Lindros suffers a head injury in the course of his employment with the Rangers, either in preseason leading up to the 2001-02 NHL season, or during the Rangers' first 50 regular-season games of the 2001-02 season, and is unable to … return to play in the NHL for at least 12 months following such injury, then the Flyers will … return New York's third round pick in the 2003 Entry Draft to the Rangers."

NHL spokesman Frank Brown said there was never any confusion.

"If the stamp of NHL Central Registry is on (the document), you have your answer," Brown said. "We don't comment on club contracts or trades."

The Rangers declined to comment Friday.

The Lindros deal was completed in August. The Flyers sent Lindros to the Rangers in exchange for Pavel Brendl, Kim Johnsson, Jan Hlavac and the third-round pick. Hlavac was later traded to Vancouver for Donald Brashear.